Papemelroti Co-Founder, TV Host Robert Alejandro Dies at 60

Filipino stationery store Papemelroti announced the death of one of its co-founders, former television host and graphic artist Robert Alejandro, on Tuesday (Nov. 5) at the age of 60.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert Alejandro,” the caption in its Instagram post wrote. “Robert was a vibrant, passionate spirit whose creativity, generosity, and warmth endure in the countless lives he has touched.”

The company did not divulge Alejandro’s cause of death, but it is understood that he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016.

Aside from putting up Papemelroti with his family in 1976 — as the company’s name is a portmanteau of the first syllables of his siblings’ names — he was also known for hosting the Probe Productions children’s program “Art Is-Kool” in the early 2000s.

In response, Angat Buhay Foundation, the non-profit organization of former Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo, mourned the death of Alejandro, who was revealed to be one of its volunteer artists.

“Robert’s boundless creativity and selfless spirit were at the heart of everything he did,” the group said on Facebook. “Thank you, Robert, for your incredible light and unwavering belief in the power of art to transform lives. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”

Alejandro: Focusing on Art Lets You Forget Everything

Alejandro obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1984. 

In 1991, he co-founded Ang Illustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) — “Illustrator of the Youth” in English — alongside other artists and illustrators of children’s books, Rappler reported. 

He also served as president of Papemelroti’s parent firm Korben Corporation from 2019 to 2024. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alejandro gave free online workshops for art enthusiasts and young cancer patients, telling GMA journalist and podcaster Howie Severino that art could be therapeutic once the person gets “immersed” with the activity. 

“If you’re really focused on what you’re doing, you forget everything — if you have pain, if you have problems,” he told Severino. “You forget it and you just focus on the art or whatever you enjoy doing.”

Alejandro also had the same sentiments when he was interviewed by Tatler Asia in 2022.

“I feel normal when I do art…” he explained. “The joy of creating art gives me so much happiness.”